Spuing latch



Dec. 4, 1928. 1,693,706

F. BORCHERT SPRING LATCH Filed May 17, 1926 Patented Dec. 4., 1928.

FRED L.' BORCHERI, or ROCKFORD, ILLINOZS.

SPRING LATCH.

Application filed May 17,

This invention relates in general to misceilaneous hardware and has more particular reference to a spring latch especially designed and adapted'for use in connection with hinges or any pivotally connected parts for holding them in closed position or any adjusted angulai position. 7 i

' In the preferred embodiment, my invention is applied to hinges and is particularly advantageous where a latch is employed in connection with a hingedly mounted part such as a door, lid, or like swinging part for holding such part in a closedposition or in any adjusted angular position. In said preferred embodiment, my invention is a substitute for and takes theiplace of any of numerous makes of latches or latch devices now in common use and when so applied-it obviates the disadvan- 'tages of such devices. For example, in the manufacture of furniture, it is customary to employ some sort of latchdevice operating between a swinging door or lid and the door jamb ivhichrequires that complemental parts be set, one in the door and the other in the door j amb, or in like relation, adapted to interlock either by manual operation or automatically as by a spring-pressed element, de

pending on the particular construction of such device. These prior devices are objectionable for the reason that, in addition to their cost, they require special labor in accurately setting and adjusting theinin position and, in the event that thehinged parts sag or become relatively displaced, the comple inental latchparts do not function properly and in some cases are rendered inoperative 7 thus necessitating resetting. Furthermore, in the manufacture of. furniture and other articl'e's where latch devices areused in large quantities, the accumulated cost of such'devices, together with the labor cost, isconsiderable. These conditions are improved by my inventionwhich provides a novel spring latch directly associated with and operating between the hinge-leaves, if applied to a hinge, orbetw'een the pivoted parts if they are otherwise pivotally connected. My improved spring latch may be built into the hinge so as to be a part thereof or it may be in the form of an attachment or a supplemental part which may be manufactured and sold independently of the hinge and applied wherever needed, Inasmuch as the spring latch serves the samepur ose as the prior latch devices above referre to and is mounted or carried directly in association with the i926. Serial No. 109581.

hinge 'or hinge mounting, it eliminates the remote mountings above referredto and does not require subsequent adjustment or setting and is an economy in cost of manufacture and installation. v I 7 Another p urpose of my invention is to provide asa' new article of manufacture a spring latch of the character above described.

In furtherance of the foregonig my invention in the preferredembodiment contemplates the provision of a spring-pressedball and a suitable carrier therefor appliedfor adapted tobe attached to one hinge-leaf of a hinge and adapted to jsnap'over an edge or part'of or on the other hinge-leaf in the case of application to a hinge. The construction and arrangement of these parts is particular;

ly advantageous and desirable,as'willappear hereinafter.

. Othercbjects and. attendant advantages will be appreciated by those skilled in this Figurel is a face view of a hinge equipped}:

Fig. 3 is a section taken on theline33 of Fig. ,1 showing the hinge, mounted;

art as the invention becomes better under: I stood by reference to the followingdescription Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 3 showing another embodiment of my invention;"and,

Figs. 5 and 6 are views of blanks used'inthe forms shown in Figs. 3 and l, respectively.

Referring to Figs. 1,2, 3, and 5, the hinge shown comprises hinge-leaves"? and 8 of Icon-3 ventional form having knuckles joined by a pintle 9 in this'instan'ce each'hin'ge-leaf having two holes 11 for the passage of wood screws or othermeans for securing the hinge to'the parts to be connected. In'this instance the spring latch above referred to becomes partof the'hinge' in the sense that its manufacture lS CO111lJlI16Cl-\Vltl1 the hinge'so as to produce combined hinge and spring latch.

As shown in Fig. 5, the hinge-leaf 7 is formed of a single piece of sheet metal, the marginal side 12 of which is bent along the line 13 to'a position atright angles to the hinge-leaf proper. Said body is slitted from the ends at 14 and the ends 15 of said marginal portion are turned inwardly at 16 to provide spring retainers. A flat spring 17 is interposed be-' tween said spring retainers with its ends .en gaged therebeneath and'the corners 18 of said end-s15 are turned down to engageand hold V the spring from lateral.displacement and at .he spring 17.

the same time permitting the ends of the spring to have sliding movement with respect to the retainers when the spring is flexed, as will be presently noted. The marginal portion 12 has an aperture 19 in which is seated a ball 21 between said marginal portion and It will be apparent that the spring holes the ball seated with a portion thereof projecting beyond the face 22 of the sheet metal portion 12 and that this projecting portion is-adapted to snap over the edge 28 of the hinge-l 8 when moved to the closed position shown in 3, thus holding the partsin' h s position.

in the application of the hinge just referred to, the hinge-lea l 7 is secured to a stationary part 24. and the hinge-leaf '8 to a swinging part 2;) such as a door, lid, or the ill be apparent that the spring I. h er et'ed' by eiigageinent of the ball 21 with the edge of the'hinge leaf 8 holds the hinged parts in closed relation but permits release therefrom upon s iging the hinged part25 in a couiitei -cl'ocltw ise direction, viewing 3, witl suiiicientpressiire to displace or retract the'ball into its container or holder against the influence of the spring 17. A ng latch of this character is particularly 1 ntaget'his for reasons, among others, that I 'angenientis compact, a comparatively long spring" action is permitted without weakening or crystallizing the spring, and the structure is capable of manufacture at a comparatively low cost. If desired, the parts say be so proportioned that the spring latch per se will be located beneath the face 26, indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, so that this side will be tiii'sh or unobstructed.

in Figs. A and 6, I have shown another embodiment Ofmy invention in which the spring latch is manufactured as a. separate article adapted Qor application or attachment to a hinge or the like. Inthis particular instance it is 'oftlie same general proportions to the hinge a dye described. As shown in Fig. 6, a sheet metal stamping 27 is provided similar inl'sliape" and proportions to thejhinge-lea't 7 with the (inception that the knuckle parts are omitted. This stamping 27 is formed to provide ball and spring retainer the same as in the pi{ vieus case. As shown in Fig. 1-, the part 27 is seated against the hinge-leaf 7 and se'ciir'ed in'p'o'sition by the same screws which hold said hinge-leaf. In this form of the invention the spring ball snaps over the edge oi the hinge-leaf 8 in the same manner as previously described;

it w ll be apparent, therefore, that my inventienis adapted for embodiment in different forms as, for example, in an article of manu'iactnre such as a hinge or as a separate article ot manufacture comprising a spring latch adapted for application to a hinge or in either case the function and ad- -.a o s of the spring latch are the same. in the pr? tire of my invention, however, that in the manufacture of the spring latch, it "d be borne in mind that changes might do in the size, shape and proportions of parts-t0 the particular application or use, that the latch or catch element 2i need not necessarily be in the term of a ball, and that the spring need not necessarily be mounted in the identical fashion shown. ot er departures from the particular strucshown herein for purpose of illustration made within the spirit and of t e invention as expressed in the appended c aims;

ciann:

ng l

t a hinge-leaf and to retained mien by the fastening means therefor, .ther 7 ball adapted to hingedeai;

Bi hinge, one hinge-leaf of which carries a spring-pressed ball adapted to snap over an edge on the other hinge-leaf to hold them iii closed relation.

As a new article of manufactiire, a spring latch for 'a hinge comprising a flat sheet nietaipiece having one or more screw holes therethi'ough and having a marginal per on turned up and its ends turned inly to'lin spring retainers, said mariai pertion having an apertiire intermete said turned-inends, fiat spring intered between and retained by said ends, and

an element positioned between the'marginal portien'and' spring and projected thereby through said aperture, said catch element being adapted tosnap over an edge oi a hingeleaf in the closed'position of the hinge.

In witness'o'f the foregoing I affiX my signature. 5 I

FRED L. BURCH-EH1.

These and fined to carry a springgpresse'd' etch compr sing a part shaped 

